Thread-stitching machine for pamphlets and similar articles.



,H. L. ROBERTS. THREAD s'rl'romue Immun ron PAMPHLETS mn 811111.13 An'rlonns.

I APPLIOATIOI FILED IUIEI. 1910. 1,001,308. `Patenten Aug.22,1911.

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` 11. L. ROBERTS. THREAD STITGHING HAOHINE FOB PAIAPHLETB AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUHE, 1910.

Pamntd Aug.22,1911. A

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HORACE L. ROBERTS, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

THREAD-STITCHING MACHINE FOR PAMPHLETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed J'une B, 1910. Serial No. 565,735.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

it known that I, HORACE L. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in ThreadStitching Machines for Pamphlets and Similar Articles, Lof'which the following is a speci.- cation. j

This invention relates to a thread stitching machine for uniting the sheets or signatures of pamphlets, books and lsimilar articles, such, for instance, as described in Patent No. 944,051 granted to me on December 21, 1909. Y

The invention comprises more particularly novel and eifective means for properly guiding the thread while the same is drawn through the previously formed needle holes of the pamphlet, so that any undue widening of said holes and a tearing' of the pamphlet is prevented.

Theinvention also comprises novel means for pro erly opening the central loop of the stitch orming thread, so that the loopers carrying the thread ends may readily pass through the same.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional front view of pai-t of a thread stitching machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 a plan thereof, with the table and presser foot omitted, Fig. 3 a bottom view of part of the means for actuating the loop opener, Fig. 4 an enlarged vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 2, showing the table and presser foot in` position, Fig. 5 a similar section on line 5-5, Fig. 2, Fig. 6 a sectional rear view of the presser foot, Fig. 7 a plan of the presser foot and its guide, Fig. 8 a

detail of the movable presser foot plate, Fig. 9 a section on line Slm-9, Fig. 8 and Fig. 1() a detail showing the thread partly drawn through the pamphlet.

The machine comprises essentially a table adapted for the support of the pamphlet to bestitched; a presser foot which holds the amphlet to the table; three needles which Erst pierce said pamphlet from the outside toward the inside and then draw the thread throu h the needle holes in such a manner that t e central needle forms an outwardly extending thread.l loop; an opener which spreads said loop; and a pair of loopers which pass through the opened loop, draw the thread-ends therethrough and finally close the loop upon said ends.

temporarily supported bvwronga 33.

The means for operating the presser foot, needles and loopers are embodied in the patent above referred to, while the construc-y tion of the novel presser foot and ofthe loop openerl and its operating mechanism are as follows: In a recessed guide 15 which constitutes part of the machine frame, is mounted a vertically reciprooative shank 16. This shank is recessed for the reception of a plunger 17 while a suitable face plate 18 holds shank 16 and yplunger 17 to guide 15.` Into plunger 17 is tapped a pin 19, the enlarged stem 20 of which passes through slots 21, 22 of shank 16 and guide 15 respectively. At its Outer end, pin 19 carries an antifriction roller 23, which engages the groove 24C of a segmental cam 25, said cam and its actuating mechanism being in all respects identical with the cam 58 and the parts cooperating therewith as described in the above cited patent. From shank 16 projects forward and downward a slotted foot 26, the lower longitudinal edge 27 of which is arranged verticallyr above the furrow of tablev 28 supporting the pamphlet 29. The lower rear side of foot 26 is recessed as at 30 for the reception of a slide 31, suitable guides 32 confining said slide within said recess. Along its lower edge, slide 31 is provided with three slightly I upturned prongs 33, having semicircular notches 34 which permit the passage of the stitch-forming needles 35. Near its upper end, slide 31 has a longitudinal slot 318L which `is permanently engaged by a tongue 36 projecting rearward and downward from plunger 17, so that tongue 36 extends at right angles to slide 31.

Fig. 4. shows the presser foot in the position it occupies while the thread is drawn through the pamphlet, the means for supplying and stretching the thread above and along the table furrow being fully described in the above cited patent. It will be seen that in this position, slide 31 is so forced into the fold of the pamphlet, that prongs 33 extend forward beyond said fold. Thus when needles 35 draw the thread through the pamphlet, the thread will not-v slide along the pamphlet-.fold but""wil1 ha` 10) so that any undue widlemmgof than i holes and a connenrt tanning ofthe ypam'- phlct fold is eectively prevented. After the thready be'e"""'drawn"' "almost entirely through the pamphlet and ,previous to its being finally locked, plunger 17 is raised by cam 25, while foot 26 will remain in its low-- phlet has been placed upon table 28, shank 16 and plunger 17 descend in unison until the unrecessed outer sections 37 of oot 26 find a bearing upon the pamphlet, so that the continued descent of pin 19 will, by tongue 36 cause a corresponding advance of slide 31 to project its prongs over the pamphlet fold, whereupon the operation d'escribed is repeated.

The means for opening the downwardly extending central thread loop comprise a pair of superposed slides 38, 39, having upturned front sections 40, 41 that carry tapering beaks 42, 43 respectively. Slides 38, 39 are mounted in a corresponding guide way of a carriage 44 engaging a dovetailed stationary rail 45, a disengagement of the slides from the carriage being prevented by cross pieces 46. TheA coperation of the parts is such that while carriage 44 travels along the pamphlet-fold, slides 38, 39 travel at right angles thereto. Into slides 38,39 are tapped a pair of screws 47 carrying antifriction rollers 48 lwhich constitute abutments and engage' opposite edges of a longitudinally reciprocative cam rail 49, a spring 50 suspended between slides 38, 39 tending to draw rollers 48 against said rail. Rail 49 is secured to the slide 51 of one of the loopers 52 and thus participates in the reciprocative movement of the latter, while any disengagement of the rail from the carriage is prevented by a cross piece 53. Near its free end, rail 49 is provided with a pair of recesses 54 that form a head 55 at the end of the rail. When rollers 48 engage recesses 54, beaks 42, 43 are closed (Fig. 5,) while when the rollers engage the unmutilated section of rail 49, the beaks are opened, as will be readily understood. Besides operating the loop opening beaks, rail 49 has the additional function of reciprocating carriage 44 so as to project the beaks into thread loop 56, and to withdraw them therefrom. For this purpose the tension of spring 50 should be such. that when rollers 48 are engaged by the inclined sections 57 of rail 49, they will first be taken along by said rail thereby shifting carriage 44 to the left until the latter engages an adjustable stop 58 secured to the bottom of rail 45 by a screw 59 passing through a corresponding slot 60 of said stop. During this travel of carriage 44 the closed beaks 42, 43 will enter loop 56, while during the continued advance of rail 49, the rollers 48 will ride along sections 57, thereby opening beaks 42, 43 and spreading loop 56. During the subsequent return movement of rail 45, the rollers 48 will first enter recesses rand for simultaneously reciprocating `the slides-in opposite directions and at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the carriage.

2. In a stitching machine, a carriage, a pair` of spring-influenced slides mounted therein, loop-opening beaks on said slides, and a recessedrail adapted to reciprocate the carriage and to open the beaks.

3. In a stitching machine, a carriage, a stop adapted to be engaged thereby, a pair of spring-influenced slides mounted in the carriage, loop-opening beaks and abutments on said slides, and a recessed reciprocative rail engaging said abutments.

4. In a stitching machine, a carriage, an adjustable stop adapted to be engaged thereby, a pair ofspring-influenced slides mounted in the carriage, loop-opening beaks and abutments on said slides, and a recessed headed rail reciprocatively mounted between said abutments.

HORACE L. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

\ARTHUR ZUMPE,

FRANK v. BRIESEN.

Copies of this patent may beiobtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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